The Chortle comedy awards have courted controversy by shortlisting only two solo female comics, out of a total of 54 nominations.

Dana Alexander and Susan Calman, who are nominated for best club comic and best compere respectively, are the two women in contention for the comedy website's annual awards. Several sitcoms and ensemble shows, including Channel 4's Fresh Meat and contemporary variety show La Soirée, include female artists, but the overwhelming majority of individual recognitions are for male standups.

Earlier this month, the BBC's controller of entertainment commissioning, Mark Linsey, admitted that "there's more work to be done" when it came to getting female comics on air. "We don't have enough female comedians on television," he said. "That's something we are aware of."

Adam Riches, six months after winning the Edinburgh Comedy award, receives three nominations. The comedian, much of whose material involves onstage audience participation, is in the running for breakthrough act, best sketch or character act and best show for Bring Me the Head of Adam Riches, which is currently playing at the Soho Theatre.

Humphrey Kerr, who was awarded the best newcomer award at this year's Edinburgh fringe, is one of four comedians with two nominations (breakthrough and best sketch or character act). The others are Stewart Lee for his BBC2 show Comedy Vehicle, Dylan Moran for the Yeah Yeah tour and Sam Simmons, also up for breakthough and best show.

A host of household names are also among the nominees. Jerry Seinfeld, Dave Gorman and Steven Merchant are up for best tour, while Tim Minchin and Inbetweeners star Greg Davies both receive nominations for the best stand-up DVD alongside Lee and Moran. Charlie Brooker and Danny Baker are respectively nominated for the TV and radio awards, split into separate categories for the first time.